Hello. I know it's been a while. For now, this is going to be the last chapter (provided I can fit it all in here) and it also marks the end of the pre-written stuff. Yes, I know it's a cliffhanger and yes, I know that gives you the right to shoot me on sight, but finishing this isn't my first priority and it hasn't been for quite some time. I want to thank everyone who stuck with me, and egged me on, especially you, Joanna. I wouldn't ever have typed this thing in the first place if you hadn't made me do it. I'm sure I'll get around to it later. Maybe even before the Inu Yasha manga is over. ^-^ I also lost my glasses yesterday and got a mega sunburn. This sucks...
Manekochan
(If I start typing again in a week, somebody kill me...)
Chapter 15
Reconciliation
Shippou played with an acorn on the floor of the hut while Kaede ate her soup. She wondered quietly about what would happen. She wondered if Sesshomaru was even still living with Kagome. Kagome was probably fine, given her spirit and "Maru-chan's" new collar, but Kaede still wondered. She especially wondered about Inu Yasha and his intentions. If Sesshomaru wanted to stay in Kagome's world, would he allow it? Would he KILL Sesshomaru? Surely not with him in such a pathetic form. Still...
Kaede sipped the soup slowly.
The flap opened and a slightly damp female dog-demon entered. Kaede swallowed her soup and sat her bowl down. Shippou waved and spun his acorn somemore. A slightly damp puppy nosed in through the flap.
Kaede stared at it. "This is..."
Inu-Yasha nodded. "Yup. Can you boil us some water, Granny?" she asked as she plunked down indian-style on the floor.
Sesshomaru avoided looking at the old woman.
Shipppou hopped over to Sesshomaru, shoving his acorn into his pocket. He looked at the puppy, then at Inu-Yasha. "What's with the mutt?"
Sesshomaru growled.
"It'd watch it if I were you, Shippou. This is my brother Sesshomaru." Inu-Yasha stretched out and lay on her side with her head propped up on one hand.
Kaede traversed the room and gathered up a kettle to hang over the fire.
Shippou offered Sesshomaru an acorn.
Sesshomaru raised a brow and the kitsune tucked the acorn into his pocket yet again.
Inu-Yasha kicked at Shippou lazily. Shippou dodged. "Cut that out," Inu-Yasha grumbled. She looked around the hut as Shippou took his place. "Where's Miroku?" she asked.
Shippou avoided eye contact. "He said he would wait for you somewhere else. Outside. He probably doesn't know you're back yet."
Inu-Yasha huffed. "That idiot. Is he still sulking?"
Shippou shrugged and played with his tail evasively.
Inu-Yasha sighed, knowing the pup was avoiding her questions.
*Who is Miroku?* Sesshomaru wondered. He looked around the room. *Inu-Yasha has many friends...* he thought. *This is new...* He looked at his younger brother (sister, right then...). *Perhaps... perhaps it is the girl's influence.*
"Speaking of sulking..." said Kaede from across the fire. Inu-Yasha's face grew hard. "Are you and Kagome still fighting?"
Inu-Yasha turned her head angrily away. "If we are, then it's none of your business," she growled.
"I'm surprized she let you take him," said Kaede, referring to the puppy. "She seemed fairly attatched to him the last time I saw her."
Inu-Yasha grumbled and avoided looking at her brother.
Kaede cleared her throat. "At any rate, you've brought him with you so you two must be resolved."
"Hm." Inu-Yasha said in reply. She looked at the opposite wall in silence. She still didn't quite trust her brother. She didn't really WANT to. She still wanted to feel betrayed by him. WHY did he tell her that he never hated her? What was he playing at? His time with Kagome hadn't changed him THAT much, had it?
She grumbled again and punched her fist into the floor of the hut.
The others looked at her with questioning eyes and Inu-Yasha grew red. She drew her hand out of the floor. She thought to leave, but decided that if Sesshojmaru got the hot water before she did, he might start a fight with Kaede (The old woman HAD collared him...) so Inu-Yasha settled down and decided to bide her time.
Shippou spoke up. "Who's Kagome?
He received a glare and from the demoness and went back to playing with his acorn thinking, *If looks could kill...*
Kaede sat with her eye closed and said, "Kagome is the reincarnation of my sister."
Shippou's mouth hung open. Inu-Yasha growled. "She is no one's reincarnation-- would you just drop it?
The demoness got to her feet and began to pace. "Old Woman-- is that water hot yet?"
Kaede glanced at the kettle. "No."
Inu-Yasha grumbled yet again and Sesshomaru watched as she paced the floor.
...............................................
Sesshomaru opened his eyes peeking through wet chunks of hair at the equally wet Inu-Yasha. Inu-Yasha had placed the untransformed Tetsusaiga in his hand just in case Sesshomaru got any ideas.
Shippou peeked at the demon from behind Inu-Yasha's legs and Kaede felt her breath catch. She'd never known Sesshomaru was so gorgeous.
"Kaede," said Inu-Yasha flatly, his eyes not leaving his brother.
"A-ah?" she responded.
"Give me his clothing," Inu-Yasha ordered. He heard shuffling behind him as Kaede looked for the kimono and other pieces.
"Here," a voice said as the cloth was shoved into his left hand.
Inu-Yasha nodded his thanks and stared at the crowched and dripping Sesshomaru. The Tetsusaiga was pulsing with feeling. It could sense that there was a demon in front of it and it wanted very much to transform.
Inu-Yasha turned the Tetsusaiga toward its scabbord and sheathed it with a serious look on his face. He handed Sesshomaru's clothing back to him with an unwavering gaze.
Sesshomaru paused for a moment and looked at his brother. he took the clothes from the younger demon and unfolded them. He set the hakama (pants) on the ground and stepped into it, pulling it up to his waist. He wrapped the long ends around his waist and tied them in a traditional know. Then, Sesshomaru slid into his kimono.
He found his shoes and fur-wraps and, finishing his ensemble, turned to Inu-Yasha.
"The Tensaiga, if you would please," he said in his silken voice.
Inu-Yasha turned his hands over the hilt of the Tetsusaiga protectively. "I knew you hadn't changed..." he growled, preparing to draw the sword for battle.
Sesshomaru arched a brow at his brother. He was tempted to mock the half-demon about his bad hearing but decided that it would not be worth it.
"The TEN-saiga," he restated calmly. "Not the Tetsusaiga."
Inu-Yasha's face grew confused. He turned one of his hands around the hilt of the other sword under his belt.
"This useless thing?" he asked.
Sesshomaru nodded.
Inu-Yasha smirked, yanked it from his belt and tossed it to his brother. "There ya' go," he said. "Don't know why you want that thing, though. It doesn't work."
Sesshomaru gave a shrug and stowed the sword under his belt.
"'Zat it?" asked Inu-Yasha harshly.
Sesshomaru nodded solemnly and began to walk toward the exit. He didn't face the hut's inhabitants again, but said, "I don't expect you to have forgiven me yet."
Inu-Yasha looked at Sesshomaru reproachfully, but inside he was struggling. In the end, the silence went on for at least a full minute before Sesshomaru exited.
Shippou sighed with relief. "He was scary," he said, leaping onto Inu-Yasha's shoulder. Inu-Yasha's face was still set into a frown. "Inu-Yasha?" asked the kitsune as the half-demon continued to stare at the exit.
Shippou felt a hand on his dogi (shirt) and let out an "Ahhh?!?" as he was lifted off of his perch and dropped onto the floor.
Shippou looked up. "What's hte big idea of doin' that?!?" he demanded, but Inu-Yasha was already gone and the flap over the door touched back down against the frame with a gentle "clack".
Shippou blinked.
..............................................
"Sesshomaru--"
The demon turned at hearing his name.
"Is that true? What you said?" demanded Inu-Yasha from about 10 yards away. The night was quiet and the silence seemed to asail Inu-Yasha.
The two brothers were standing a ways away from the hut. Sesshomaru hadn't taken flight yet-- it was as if he hadn't even thought to, not having done it in so long.
"It is true. I have never hated you," said the elder calmly.
Inu-Yasha's face grew angry. "Then why did you turn on me?!?" he demanded. He could feel his eyes aching but he wouldn't let Sesshomaru see any tears.
Sesshomaru allowed a small silence. To tellt he boy everything would alienate him again and he didn't want to do that. Not when they wree so close to being brothers again. So, he resolved to leave out the bits about Kikyo and Kagome.
"Because I wanted to make you stronger," he said. A weak smile tugged at him as he recalled his arm. "It has worked well."
Inu-Yasha's face was still set in a look of resentment, but he took the words in.
There was more silence and Inu-Yasha looked at the ground, thinking. "Why?" he began. "Why did you do that?" He looked up, gaining anger and momentum, not paying attention to the fact that the tears he had so wanted to hide were now streaming down his face. "Why did you desert me when I needed you MOST?!?"
Sesshomaru looked away. He stared at the trees in the distance.
"Answer me!" yelled the half-demon.
"There has never been a time that I have known the way to show attatchment. You knew me then. I was cold at best and murderous at worst. Not hating you..." he paused. "Or rather... CARing for you..." he paused again. "Was not something I was used to. In my mind, I did as best for you as I could. I protected you until I thought you could protect yourself and after that I fought you to TEACH you. I know now what I should have done and I appologize."
Deep down, a part of Inu-Yasha was saying, "I knew it! I knew it," but a larger part of him was saying, "Don't trust him. He can't have changed so much so quickly. He's still the bastard he always was."
There was silence as the younger brother fought with what to say. The tears were still rolling down his face and it was then that he noticed them and furiously wiped them away with the sleeve of his kimono. The firerat fur was rough against his skin and he rubbed it so harshly that his cheeks became red and raw.
Inu-Yasha felt small. He wanted-- so badly-- to believe that Sesshomaru had changed-- again thought of him as a brother. He felt like a child again waiting for his brother's approval. But, he was also a bitter adult who didn't want to accept an appology. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
His hand went to his head, as if the action alone could quell the turmoil he was going through. He noticed that he was shaking and that, somehow, he had come to be sitting on the ground, his legs slightly bent in front of him. *When did that happen?... * he wondered.
Sesshomaru was looking at him with patience. He had turned to face the boy as he'd been wiping his face. Seeing him, sitting there, so childlike, vulnerable, and utterly defeated by the conflict in his mind, Sesshomaru felt more guilt and heartache than he had ever been privy to.
Inu-Yasha began to stand, first pulling his legs close to his body, then getting shakily to his feet. His knees felt as if they would give out. He was shaking with so much anger, fear, and uncertainty, that he felt that any moment he would simply fade out of existance.
THe ground seemed to be solid again, finally, and Inu-Yasha saw that Sesshomaru was still staring at him with a kind of vieled desperation and that unflappable patience that Inu-Yasha seemed to lack. He was still shaking a bit, still feeling not quite right, but now he felt heavy, as if a great weight in him were pulling toward the ground. He had stopped crying, but his eyes stung and his throat felt tight, as if he might start again at any moment.
A slight breeze began. It shifted toward Inu-Yasha and he was glad to feel the cool of it against his face. It brought with it the smell of trees, and blossoms and Inu-Yasha breathed them in, tried to calm himself. Sesshomaru's scent reached him, clear and clean. He could smell a little bit of fear in it, a bit of apprehension and worry, but much to Inu-Yasha's chagrin, he could smell no deceit. He wanted a reason to call the demon a liar, but... he had none. Sesshomaru was not deceiving him. He looked at the ground and swallowed hard.
Inu-Yasha drew in a ragged breath and in a burst of courage, or possibly defeat, he began to speak.
"I... I have never hate you, either... Not really." THe tears threatened to come to his eyes again. Sesshomaru looked somewhat pleased. No. That wasn't the word. Relieved.
A tired smile crossed the older demon's face and his usually cold eyes seemed so very... sympathetic. Glad. Had he been hoping to hear that?
Inu-Yasha composed himself, and added, "But, that doesn't mean I've forGIVEN you for everything yet."
Sesshomaru smiled.
Inu-Yasha looked embarassedly off ot the side and mutterd to himself.
"Shit..."
Sesshomaru traversed the distance between them and stood beside Inu-Yasha.
"So we are no longer enemies," said Sesshomaru quietly. He didn't face the boy.
Inu-Yasha scoffed. "It's not MY fault we were enemies in the FIRST place." He looked defiantly off ot the side. "And just because we're brothers again, doesn't mean I'm not still mad at you. You turned me into a frikkin' girl, for God's sake."
"Hm." Sesshomaru nodded in admission.
The silence crept in again and the two brothers stood in the grass.
"So what do we do now....?" Inu-Yasha asked, grudgingly.
Sesshomaru shook his head, his brow creasing, and a frown coming to his lips. He sighed.
"I don't know."
Chapter 15 End
End of Inu 1/2
For now...
Manekochan
(If I start typing again in a week, somebody kill me...)
Chapter 15
Reconciliation
Shippou played with an acorn on the floor of the hut while Kaede ate her soup. She wondered quietly about what would happen. She wondered if Sesshomaru was even still living with Kagome. Kagome was probably fine, given her spirit and "Maru-chan's" new collar, but Kaede still wondered. She especially wondered about Inu Yasha and his intentions. If Sesshomaru wanted to stay in Kagome's world, would he allow it? Would he KILL Sesshomaru? Surely not with him in such a pathetic form. Still...
Kaede sipped the soup slowly.
The flap opened and a slightly damp female dog-demon entered. Kaede swallowed her soup and sat her bowl down. Shippou waved and spun his acorn somemore. A slightly damp puppy nosed in through the flap.
Kaede stared at it. "This is..."
Inu-Yasha nodded. "Yup. Can you boil us some water, Granny?" she asked as she plunked down indian-style on the floor.
Sesshomaru avoided looking at the old woman.
Shipppou hopped over to Sesshomaru, shoving his acorn into his pocket. He looked at the puppy, then at Inu-Yasha. "What's with the mutt?"
Sesshomaru growled.
"It'd watch it if I were you, Shippou. This is my brother Sesshomaru." Inu-Yasha stretched out and lay on her side with her head propped up on one hand.
Kaede traversed the room and gathered up a kettle to hang over the fire.
Shippou offered Sesshomaru an acorn.
Sesshomaru raised a brow and the kitsune tucked the acorn into his pocket yet again.
Inu-Yasha kicked at Shippou lazily. Shippou dodged. "Cut that out," Inu-Yasha grumbled. She looked around the hut as Shippou took his place. "Where's Miroku?" she asked.
Shippou avoided eye contact. "He said he would wait for you somewhere else. Outside. He probably doesn't know you're back yet."
Inu-Yasha huffed. "That idiot. Is he still sulking?"
Shippou shrugged and played with his tail evasively.
Inu-Yasha sighed, knowing the pup was avoiding her questions.
*Who is Miroku?* Sesshomaru wondered. He looked around the room. *Inu-Yasha has many friends...* he thought. *This is new...* He looked at his younger brother (sister, right then...). *Perhaps... perhaps it is the girl's influence.*
"Speaking of sulking..." said Kaede from across the fire. Inu-Yasha's face grew hard. "Are you and Kagome still fighting?"
Inu-Yasha turned her head angrily away. "If we are, then it's none of your business," she growled.
"I'm surprized she let you take him," said Kaede, referring to the puppy. "She seemed fairly attatched to him the last time I saw her."
Inu-Yasha grumbled and avoided looking at her brother.
Kaede cleared her throat. "At any rate, you've brought him with you so you two must be resolved."
"Hm." Inu-Yasha said in reply. She looked at the opposite wall in silence. She still didn't quite trust her brother. She didn't really WANT to. She still wanted to feel betrayed by him. WHY did he tell her that he never hated her? What was he playing at? His time with Kagome hadn't changed him THAT much, had it?
She grumbled again and punched her fist into the floor of the hut.
The others looked at her with questioning eyes and Inu-Yasha grew red. She drew her hand out of the floor. She thought to leave, but decided that if Sesshojmaru got the hot water before she did, he might start a fight with Kaede (The old woman HAD collared him...) so Inu-Yasha settled down and decided to bide her time.
Shippou spoke up. "Who's Kagome?
He received a glare and from the demoness and went back to playing with his acorn thinking, *If looks could kill...*
Kaede sat with her eye closed and said, "Kagome is the reincarnation of my sister."
Shippou's mouth hung open. Inu-Yasha growled. "She is no one's reincarnation-- would you just drop it?
The demoness got to her feet and began to pace. "Old Woman-- is that water hot yet?"
Kaede glanced at the kettle. "No."
Inu-Yasha grumbled yet again and Sesshomaru watched as she paced the floor.
...............................................
Sesshomaru opened his eyes peeking through wet chunks of hair at the equally wet Inu-Yasha. Inu-Yasha had placed the untransformed Tetsusaiga in his hand just in case Sesshomaru got any ideas.
Shippou peeked at the demon from behind Inu-Yasha's legs and Kaede felt her breath catch. She'd never known Sesshomaru was so gorgeous.
"Kaede," said Inu-Yasha flatly, his eyes not leaving his brother.
"A-ah?" she responded.
"Give me his clothing," Inu-Yasha ordered. He heard shuffling behind him as Kaede looked for the kimono and other pieces.
"Here," a voice said as the cloth was shoved into his left hand.
Inu-Yasha nodded his thanks and stared at the crowched and dripping Sesshomaru. The Tetsusaiga was pulsing with feeling. It could sense that there was a demon in front of it and it wanted very much to transform.
Inu-Yasha turned the Tetsusaiga toward its scabbord and sheathed it with a serious look on his face. He handed Sesshomaru's clothing back to him with an unwavering gaze.
Sesshomaru paused for a moment and looked at his brother. he took the clothes from the younger demon and unfolded them. He set the hakama (pants) on the ground and stepped into it, pulling it up to his waist. He wrapped the long ends around his waist and tied them in a traditional know. Then, Sesshomaru slid into his kimono.
He found his shoes and fur-wraps and, finishing his ensemble, turned to Inu-Yasha.
"The Tensaiga, if you would please," he said in his silken voice.
Inu-Yasha turned his hands over the hilt of the Tetsusaiga protectively. "I knew you hadn't changed..." he growled, preparing to draw the sword for battle.
Sesshomaru arched a brow at his brother. He was tempted to mock the half-demon about his bad hearing but decided that it would not be worth it.
"The TEN-saiga," he restated calmly. "Not the Tetsusaiga."
Inu-Yasha's face grew confused. He turned one of his hands around the hilt of the other sword under his belt.
"This useless thing?" he asked.
Sesshomaru nodded.
Inu-Yasha smirked, yanked it from his belt and tossed it to his brother. "There ya' go," he said. "Don't know why you want that thing, though. It doesn't work."
Sesshomaru gave a shrug and stowed the sword under his belt.
"'Zat it?" asked Inu-Yasha harshly.
Sesshomaru nodded solemnly and began to walk toward the exit. He didn't face the hut's inhabitants again, but said, "I don't expect you to have forgiven me yet."
Inu-Yasha looked at Sesshomaru reproachfully, but inside he was struggling. In the end, the silence went on for at least a full minute before Sesshomaru exited.
Shippou sighed with relief. "He was scary," he said, leaping onto Inu-Yasha's shoulder. Inu-Yasha's face was still set into a frown. "Inu-Yasha?" asked the kitsune as the half-demon continued to stare at the exit.
Shippou felt a hand on his dogi (shirt) and let out an "Ahhh?!?" as he was lifted off of his perch and dropped onto the floor.
Shippou looked up. "What's hte big idea of doin' that?!?" he demanded, but Inu-Yasha was already gone and the flap over the door touched back down against the frame with a gentle "clack".
Shippou blinked.
..............................................
"Sesshomaru--"
The demon turned at hearing his name.
"Is that true? What you said?" demanded Inu-Yasha from about 10 yards away. The night was quiet and the silence seemed to asail Inu-Yasha.
The two brothers were standing a ways away from the hut. Sesshomaru hadn't taken flight yet-- it was as if he hadn't even thought to, not having done it in so long.
"It is true. I have never hated you," said the elder calmly.
Inu-Yasha's face grew angry. "Then why did you turn on me?!?" he demanded. He could feel his eyes aching but he wouldn't let Sesshomaru see any tears.
Sesshomaru allowed a small silence. To tellt he boy everything would alienate him again and he didn't want to do that. Not when they wree so close to being brothers again. So, he resolved to leave out the bits about Kikyo and Kagome.
"Because I wanted to make you stronger," he said. A weak smile tugged at him as he recalled his arm. "It has worked well."
Inu-Yasha's face was still set in a look of resentment, but he took the words in.
There was more silence and Inu-Yasha looked at the ground, thinking. "Why?" he began. "Why did you do that?" He looked up, gaining anger and momentum, not paying attention to the fact that the tears he had so wanted to hide were now streaming down his face. "Why did you desert me when I needed you MOST?!?"
Sesshomaru looked away. He stared at the trees in the distance.
"Answer me!" yelled the half-demon.
"There has never been a time that I have known the way to show attatchment. You knew me then. I was cold at best and murderous at worst. Not hating you..." he paused. "Or rather... CARing for you..." he paused again. "Was not something I was used to. In my mind, I did as best for you as I could. I protected you until I thought you could protect yourself and after that I fought you to TEACH you. I know now what I should have done and I appologize."
Deep down, a part of Inu-Yasha was saying, "I knew it! I knew it," but a larger part of him was saying, "Don't trust him. He can't have changed so much so quickly. He's still the bastard he always was."
There was silence as the younger brother fought with what to say. The tears were still rolling down his face and it was then that he noticed them and furiously wiped them away with the sleeve of his kimono. The firerat fur was rough against his skin and he rubbed it so harshly that his cheeks became red and raw.
Inu-Yasha felt small. He wanted-- so badly-- to believe that Sesshomaru had changed-- again thought of him as a brother. He felt like a child again waiting for his brother's approval. But, he was also a bitter adult who didn't want to accept an appology. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
His hand went to his head, as if the action alone could quell the turmoil he was going through. He noticed that he was shaking and that, somehow, he had come to be sitting on the ground, his legs slightly bent in front of him. *When did that happen?... * he wondered.
Sesshomaru was looking at him with patience. He had turned to face the boy as he'd been wiping his face. Seeing him, sitting there, so childlike, vulnerable, and utterly defeated by the conflict in his mind, Sesshomaru felt more guilt and heartache than he had ever been privy to.
Inu-Yasha began to stand, first pulling his legs close to his body, then getting shakily to his feet. His knees felt as if they would give out. He was shaking with so much anger, fear, and uncertainty, that he felt that any moment he would simply fade out of existance.
THe ground seemed to be solid again, finally, and Inu-Yasha saw that Sesshomaru was still staring at him with a kind of vieled desperation and that unflappable patience that Inu-Yasha seemed to lack. He was still shaking a bit, still feeling not quite right, but now he felt heavy, as if a great weight in him were pulling toward the ground. He had stopped crying, but his eyes stung and his throat felt tight, as if he might start again at any moment.
A slight breeze began. It shifted toward Inu-Yasha and he was glad to feel the cool of it against his face. It brought with it the smell of trees, and blossoms and Inu-Yasha breathed them in, tried to calm himself. Sesshomaru's scent reached him, clear and clean. He could smell a little bit of fear in it, a bit of apprehension and worry, but much to Inu-Yasha's chagrin, he could smell no deceit. He wanted a reason to call the demon a liar, but... he had none. Sesshomaru was not deceiving him. He looked at the ground and swallowed hard.
Inu-Yasha drew in a ragged breath and in a burst of courage, or possibly defeat, he began to speak.
"I... I have never hate you, either... Not really." THe tears threatened to come to his eyes again. Sesshomaru looked somewhat pleased. No. That wasn't the word. Relieved.
A tired smile crossed the older demon's face and his usually cold eyes seemed so very... sympathetic. Glad. Had he been hoping to hear that?
Inu-Yasha composed himself, and added, "But, that doesn't mean I've forGIVEN you for everything yet."
Sesshomaru smiled.
Inu-Yasha looked embarassedly off ot the side and mutterd to himself.
"Shit..."
Sesshomaru traversed the distance between them and stood beside Inu-Yasha.
"So we are no longer enemies," said Sesshomaru quietly. He didn't face the boy.
Inu-Yasha scoffed. "It's not MY fault we were enemies in the FIRST place." He looked defiantly off ot the side. "And just because we're brothers again, doesn't mean I'm not still mad at you. You turned me into a frikkin' girl, for God's sake."
"Hm." Sesshomaru nodded in admission.
The silence crept in again and the two brothers stood in the grass.
"So what do we do now....?" Inu-Yasha asked, grudgingly.
Sesshomaru shook his head, his brow creasing, and a frown coming to his lips. He sighed.
"I don't know."
Chapter 15 End
End of Inu 1/2
For now...